SEMIS TARGET NG KINGS, HOTSHOTS

Mga laro ngayon:

(Araneta Coliseum)

4:30 p.m. – Blackwater vs Magnolia

7 p.m. –  Ginebra vs NLEX

SISIKAPIN ng Barangay Ginebra at Magnolia na maagang makausad sa semifinals sa magkahiwalay na laban sa pagsisimula ng quarterfinals ng PBA Governors’ Cup ngayon sa Araneta Coliseum.

Kapwa armado ng twice-to-beat advantage, haharapin ng Kings at Hotshots ang NLEX Road Warriors at Blackwater Elite, ayon sa pagkakasunod.

Ang Kings, top seed matapos ang eliminations, ay pinapaboran laban Road Warriors, ang eighth seed, sa kanilang sagupaan sa alas-7 ng gabi.

Mas malawak ang karanasan ng Ginebra kumpara sa NLEX subalit ayaw magkumpiyansa ni Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

“The real hard work starts. We know there’s no easy way in the playoffs. It’s all hard work and it’s always a tough route no matter who you’re playing,” wika ni Cone.

Sinabi ni Cone na mabigat na kalaban ang NLEX lalo pa’t ginagabayan ito ni coach Yeng Guiao.

“I think we all coaches we try to avoid certain coaches we wanna play in the playoffs. And certainly, Yeng Guiao is one of those coaches you wanna avoid in the playoffs,” ani  Cone. “You know you would be in a tough battle with coach Yeng.”

Lalong lumakas ang tropa ni Cone sa pagbabalik nina Greg Slaughter at Sol Mercado, kasama si Art dela Cruz.

Ang tatlo ay may magandang warmup sa 112-93 pagdurog ng Ginebra sa TNT KaTropa sa huling laro ng  elims noong Linggo.

“It’s important for us to get more minutes and more time and play hard with Greg in the lineup and also Sol, and also we started with Art in the lineup.

“Primarily because we wanted them extra minutes, have them time as they didn’t have much time this conference,” ani Cone.

Hindi naman nawawalan ng loob ang Blackwater sa malaking bentahe sa kanila ng Magnolia.

“Nakikita ko pa rin na may chance kami,” sabi ni coach Bong Ramos.

Ang Hotshots ay nagtapos sa ika-4 na puwesto sa pagtatapos ng 11-game eliminations, habang nasa ika-5 puwesto ang Elite.